Updated Top 100: NE Prospects Waiting their Turn
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Tommy McLeish New E #244 QB #25 HEIGHT 6'4" WEIGHT 195 POS QB CLASS 2024 View Profile Tommy McLeish Instagram Twitter State: New England School: King Philip Regional Not only one of my favorite quarterbacks in his class, Tommy McLeish…
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Continue ReadingNot only one of my favorite quarterbacks in his class, Tommy McLeish Tommy McLeish 6’4″ | 195 lbs | QB King Philip Regional | 2024 State New E is one of my favorite prospects overall. A lot to like before even watching him complete a pass. Good enough feet and release. Great height/weight combination. McLeish has experience under center, in play action sets too. The junior passer is also seasoned in spread sets out of gun. He’s already seen a variety of system sets that he can claim under his belt. There isn’t too much flash to his name, a reason why I like McLeish as much as I do. The passer could easily rank inside the top 10 with further evaluation. McLeish does all the easy things at a high level, something I can’t always say about QB prospects at this level. Sees the field well, on time with his throws. Delivers an accurate, catchable ball. Hits timing/out-breaking routes really well. His feet are married to his eyes, a huge reason why he’s ready to throw early and often. No problem checking his read-defender and delivering the ball where it’s intended. Not too many vertical heaves, hardly an issue when you’re this successful inside of 30 yards. Plenty of tight-window throws littered across his tape, hits corner routes toward the sideline well. Confident passer nonetheless, one that I’m growing more and more fond of each time I cut on his tape. Guarantee coaches have their eyes on him despite relatively slow recruitment.
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Definitive Top 100 prospect in his class. Early reps in his tape indicate two things. First, he should be in consideration for an ATH or TE designation based on his pass-catching reps. Second, I’m introduced to how special an athlete this young man is. Catches way outside of his body radius. Clough is better than I imagined he’d be with the ball in his hands, he’s a legitimate TE prospect. Watching his tape further, I can’t ignore his prowess at DL/EDGE. I like his reps on defense that much to specifically label him a top 15 DL in New England. Active hands, active in creating turnovers. Has multiple TFLs, strip-sacks to his name. Great motor, see some sacks caused after shedding 2 or more blockers. Avid blocker when he isn’t called to catch passes on offense. Beginning to build junior day visits.
Top ten linebacker prospect out of Milton Academy that is building considerable local interest. Owen Howlett Owen Howlett 6’2″ | 225 lbs | LB Milton Academy | 2024 State New E is an inside linebacker with too much overt power in his legs to be blocked out of plays. What you see is what you get with Howlett. A sturdy, hard-to-move linebacker that sniffs out runs with ease. I wouldn’t call Howlett an elite athlete, yet he can move hash-to-hash well when tracking down ball carriers. He can also clean up undisciplined backs who kick out runs into the flat, he’s got closing speed to wreak havoc in this area. Howlett has a pass coverage interception that showed off his overall awareness when the play isn’t flowing his direction. Intense motor. Elite finisher as a tackler. Pristine tackling technique puts him in position to win 1-on-1s at a consistent clip.
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Ferocious, violent linebacker that serves as the Salisbury spark fuse on the defensive side of the football. Can man the middle of the defense, scan flow and traffic and diagnose the run as well as anyone in New England. Experience aligned strong side or weak side. Phenomenal first step / read step. There’s minimal hesitation in this kid’s game, I have no problem calling Michael Taylor Michael Taylor 6’2″ | 225 lbs | LB Salisbury School | 2025 State New E ‘s instincts top-tier. The lack of false steps out of his stance puts him a step ahead when stopping the run. Timely blitzer from any linebacker alignment. There’s a running back mentality to behold, this kid wastes no time hitting holes with a purpose. Absorbs contact from ball carriers squared up, he wins more times than not. That goes a long way in showing the drive and power he possesses in his legs. Great build that is often overlooked because of how aggressive his play style is. Little activity in recruiting which is odd.
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Many FCS schools have invited Xaverian Brothers athlete Caleb Brown Caleb Brown 6’2″ | 185 lbs | ATH Xaverian Brothers | 2024 State New E to their Junior Day events. As they should, I’m surprised more schools haven’t pulled the trigger on this young man. Finding a slot corner-capable prospect at this size isn’t a frequent occurrence. Tracks the ball well across both sides of the field. Hand-eye coordination is a plus. Has tape rushing off the edge, either at OLB or blitzing at slot corner. The young man’s build is incredibly desirable, especially considering he still has time to develop said frame to match the liking of future suitors. He can still flash speed and stride at 6’2, 180. He could beef up to 200-210 and even play OLB if need be. The alignment and positional versatility is through the roof. Production might hinder Brown’s chances at early offers, which wouldn’t hold me back from extending opportunities if I were Group of Five FBS programs.
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8 games worth of Hudson Weidman Hudson Weidman 6’1″ | 190 lbs | QB Pingree School | 2024 State New E production looks like this.
1900+ passing yards, 26 touchdowns, 63% completion percentage.
The Pingree School junior passer lands as the seventh-best quarterback prospect in a loaded 2024 New England class chock full of size and talent. The first transition in his Hudl showers you with the numerous accolades Weidman has acquired throughout the years. Love Weidman’s toughness in the pocket, the young man trusts his arm and has enough confidence to face the barrel and deliver shots downfield after absorbing massive hits. Downfield depth perception is plus. Weidman shows the ability to layer the football, hitting kids in stride with touch or with velocity. Weidman got the nod over many talented QBs specifically because of how well-rounded his tape is. He doesn’t leave anything off the table. You can find off-platform throws, accurate passes while on the run. You can find tight-window throws downfield, that of a college-ready starter. You can even see Weidman tuck the ball and create with his legs. A complete quarterback prospect. Like many on this list, FBS/FCS schools are showing interest, he’s yet to pick up an offer to date.
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Probably the highest-touted prospect on this list, yet Ryan Parker Ryan Parker 6’0″ | 165 lbs | WR Milton Academy | 2024 State New E out of Milton Academy is still waiting for any phone calls from his many suitors. That time will come. Intrigued by Parker’s blend of YAC-ability and size. He isn’t going to tower over kids at 6’1, yet Parker can certainly box-out and frame DBs out of the picture if need be. Parker’s got some wiggle to his name after the catch too. His skillset makes for a promising all-around playmaker along the boundaries for Milton Academy to deploy. Can work multiple alignments, inside and outside slot will be an option for him at the next level. Phenomenal, trust-worthy hands out of Parker. His catch at the 1:06 mark of his tape shows not only the body control he possesses but also the ability to track the ball in full stride and come down with an over-shoulder catch. You can be a three-level threat as a passing attack with this kid as your primary weapon.